Arab states to discuss IS and Syria crisis

Saudi Arabia is to host a meeting of foreign ministers from several Arab states to discuss the Syrian conflict and the rise of Islamic State jihadists, Egypt's foreign ministry announced Saturday.

23.08.2014

A Peshmerga fighter guards a position on front line of fighting with Islamic State (IS) militants 20 kilometres east of Mosul, on August 18, 2014. Kurdish peshmerga fighters backed by federal forces and US warplanes pressed a counter-offensive Monday against jihadists after retaking Iraq's largest dam, as the United States and Britain stepped up their military involvement. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE

(AFP) Saudi Arabia is to host a meeting of foreign ministers from several Arab states to discuss the Syrian conflict and the rise of Islamic State jihadists, Egypt's foreign ministry announced Saturday.

It said Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were to take part in Sunday's talks to be held in the kingdom's Red Sea city of Jeddah.

The meeting will address "the growing presence in Iraq and Syria of extremists, notably the Islamic State (IS)," the ministry said in a statement.

It added that the rise of IS meant the "search for a political solution to the Syria crisis was needed more than ever."

Since declaring a "caliphate" in June, IS has conducted a lightning offensive, taking control of territory straddling Iraq and Syria.

The jihadists sparked worldwide horror and condemnation this week when they released a video showing the beheading of US journalist James Foley.

Saudi foreign ministry spokesman Osama Nugali commented that a "meeting between some Arab states will be held tomorrow (Sunday) to discuss some Arab issues," without elaborating.